Clamping device for foot-rests.



N. STEWART & A. B. HOLLENBEGK.

CLAMPING DEVICE FOR FOOT RBSTS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1914.

1,116,152, Patented N0v.3, 1914.

WITNESSES BY z-z m-w ATTORNEY n1" NORRIS PETERS C0. PHOTO LITh WASIHNUYON, n r

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NOYBJVAL STEWART AND ,ALIBEIBT B. HOLLENBECK, OF SIDNEY, NEW YORK.

CLAM EING DEVICEIOR F QOT-RESTS.

Specification of Letters'latent.

Patented *Nov.3, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we,NoRvA STEWART and f ALnnRT B. HQLLENBEOK, citizens of the United States, and residents of Sidney,

county of Delaware, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Clamping Devices for Foot-Rests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to foot-rests and more particularly to that type of rest employed by boot-blacks for supporting a shoe in position while the blacking operation is taking place, and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

The object of the invention is to provide a foot-rest wherein a shoe is maintained in fixed position upon the rest and firmly held against lateral displacement.

It has for a further object to provide a foot-rest the size of which may be varied at will so that many different widths of shoes may be supported upon the rest, those of a narrow width being held just as firmly and securely as those of a much greater width.

Our invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the features above specified, will be better understood by reference to the drawings,in which:

Figure 1 represents an end elevation of the foot-rest embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 represents a plan of the footrest.

1 designates a suitable base for the footrest, having in the preferred form of the invention an upright or leg 2 terminating in a foot-rest part 3, one side of which has the configuration corresponding to the sole portion of a shoe. 4 designates a lug or jaw preferably integral with the foot-rest part and located at the outer side thereof to project above the upper surface for the purpose of providing a stop to prevent lateral displacement of the shoe of a person using the foot-rest. 5 designates a second legor upright pivoted at 6 to the base 1 and carrying on its upper end another part 7 of the foot-rest member, said part 7 being substantially the same in shape as the part 3 and provided with a h1g8 similarly placed and performing the same function as the lug 4. It will be understood that the two parts 8 and 7 form together the foot-rest member and are adapted to conform to the ordinary shape of the sole of a shoe and provide a firm, substantial supporting surface. The leg ,5 has an extension 9 adapted to fit within a slot 10 of the base 1, thereby providing a suitable bearing surface so that the two legs are attached together in a stable and secure manner.

11 designates a spring member having its ends located respectively in sockets 12 and 13 of the leg members 2 and 5, for the purpose of normally spreading or holding the foot-rest parts 3 and 7 spaced apart so that all reasonable widthsof shoes may be insorted between the jaws or lugs at and 8.

1i designates a link pivoted at 15, in the present instance, to the leg 5, while its 0pposite end provides a pivotal support 16 for a cam or eccentric latch 17 the latter being furnished with an operating handle 18. The link 14 on its outer surface is formed with a rack or toothed surface 19 adapted to be engaged by a U-shaped locking member 20 pivotally secured at 21 to the opposite leg member 2, the function of these parts being to clamp and retain the lugs or jaws 4 and 8 against the sides of a shoe.

In the operation of the device the base 1 is secured in a fixed manner upon a suitable support with the toothed link 14: freely suspended at the side of the leg 5 with the latch member inoperative as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and consequently the spring 11 is free to maintain the parts of the footrest pressed apart or separated a desired distance. As soon as a shoe is placed upon the rest, between the lugs 4 and 8, the operator shifts the movable leg 5 to bring its lug 8 into contact with the side of the shoe sole. The member 20 is then moved along the face of the link 14: to the rack opening which will hold the parts in this adjusted position. WVith the parts so arranged the lever 18 is manipulated to turn the eccentric cam member to bring its long radius toward the leg 5, whereupon the legs 2 and 5 are pressed or drawn together with a clamping action which is made effective on the shoe by the lugs .4: and 8. The shoe is thus held firmly during the polishing operation and not subject to constant shifting and displacement by the side to side movements of the polishing cloth or the varied movements of the rubbing brushes.

It will now be apparent that we have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while We have in the present instance shown and described. the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that we do not restrict ourselves to the details, as the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, What We claim and desire to protect by Let ters Patent is 1. In a device of the character stated, a foot-rest having a fixed part and a movable part, jaw means carried by said parts for engaging a shoe supported by said rest, a spring normally holding said movable part spaced from said fixed part, a link provided with a toothed surface pivoted to one of said parts, a locking member pivoted to the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said toothed surface, and means operat- :2. In a device of the character stated, the I combination of a base having a divided foot-rest, one part of said rest being movable with respect to the other part, a spring L interposed between said parts and normally holding said rest in open position, a clamping jaw carried by each part, a link pivoted to said movable part and provided with a toothed surface, a member movably carried by said fixed part and adapted to engage any portion of said toothed surface, and a cam member carried by the free end of said link for engagement with a portion of said movable member whereby said jaws may be clamped and locked in operative position.

In testimony of Which invention, we hereunto set our hands.

NORVAL STEWART. ALBERT B. HOLLENBE'CK. Witnesses:

JOHN T. MAGFARLANE, MATT D. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

